| Regimental number | 660 |
| Place of birth | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Company Street, Semaphore, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 20 |
| Height | 5' 8.75" |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs E.L. Gay, Company Street, Semaphore, South Australia |
| Previous military service | Royal Australian Naval Reserve: still serving at time of AIF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Keswick, South Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, Signallers |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
| The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked. Those who enlisted in Western Australia embarked at Fremantle (date not recorded). | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Ellen Louise GAY. Plaque in South Australian Garden of Remembrance. |
| Discharge date | |
| Other details |
Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915. Found guilty, 20 March 1916, of failing to keep his rifle clean: awarded 7 days' confined to camp. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Promoted Lance Corporal, 22 September 1916. Promoted Temporary Corporal, 2 December 1916. Promoted Corporal, 1 January 1917. On leave to England, 17 May 1917; rejoined unit, 3 June 1917. Wounded in action and admitted to No 14 Australian Field Ambulance, then transferred to No 4 Casualty Clearing Station, 24 April 1918 (gassed, lethal); to No 37 Ambulance Train, 24 April 1918; to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Rouen, 25 April 1918; to No 72 General Hospital, Trouville, 2 May 1918; to No 1 Australian Convalescent Depot, Le Havre, 29 June 1918; marched in Australian Intermediate Base Depot, 12 July 1918. Rejoined 32nd Bn, in the field, 16 July 1918. On leave to England, 23 August 1918; rejoined 32nd Bn, 10 September 1918. Transferred to, and taken on strength of Administrative Headquarters, London, 13 December 1918. Promoted to Extra Regimental Sergeant, 1 August 1919. Commenced return to Australia on board HMAT 'Port Macquaire', 17 November 1919; disembarked Adelaide, 14 January 1920; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), Adelaide, 11 September 1920. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal Death attributed to War Service. |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 43 |
| Place of burial | Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, GAY Arthur John |